The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is currently accommodating 24,765 people in over 200 accommodation centres throughout Ireland. Of these people, approximately 5,700 have been granted International Protection or a Leave to Remain. Under The European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, those who have had their application determined are no longer entitled to Material Reception conditions. However, IPAS continues to accommodate those with status, until such time that they progress into the community.
IPAS has a specific Transition team who work in collaboration with DePaul Ireland, the Peter McVerry Trust, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Local Authorities to support residents with status to exit IPAS accommodation and access other housing options. Those with status have the same housing entitlements as Irish Citizens and are supported to register with a Local Authority and, if required, to avail of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) to secure alternative accommodation. In addition, those with status have the same social welfare entitlements as Irish Citizens.
Those with status for the greatest length of time are currently being offered a transfer to alternative emergency accommodation. Those being offered this transfer have been grated status for at least 18 months.
This process began in September 2022, beginning with single applicants with status for over 3 years. Currently singles/couples with status over 18 months have been notified of the offer of emergency accommodation, if they have been unable to source accommodation within 6 weeks of the dated letter.
All those with International Protection/Permission to Remain are written to once status has been granted and are advised they must now seek alternative accommodation. They are also advised that the supports of PMVT/Depaul are available to them. In the past 18 months, over 2000 people with status have left IPAS accommodation and progressed into the community.
Since September 2022:
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Number of Households written to
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799
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Number of Households transferred to emergency accommodation
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56
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Number of Households remained on medical/welfare grounds
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38
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Number of Households that left IPAS accommodation
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345
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Those due to transfer in November/December
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360
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Offers of emergency accommodation for adult males have included:
• Treacys Hotel, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan
• Knockalisheen Tented Accommodation, Co. Clare
• Kilbride Army Camp, Co. Wicklow
Offers of emergency accommodation for adult females have included:
• Treacys Hotel, Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan
• Sailors Rest, Buncrana, Co. Donegal
• Breaffy House, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
IPAS wrote to 18 families with status, ranging between 3 to 6 years, in April 2022. These families were offered alternative accommodation in Lakelands Hotel, Scarriff, Co. Clare. They were given until July 2023, and if unable to source alternative accommodation, could avail of the transfer to Lakelands Hotel. These figures are included above.
Those written to were/are in various IPAS accommodation centres across 22 counties.
